1.0 Insulation Guidelines A. The following is a list of generic insulations acceptable for use with Mule-Hide Single Ply Roofing Systems. Requests to use other types of insulation boards are to be made to Mule-Hide's Technical Department in writing prior to job bid. Such requests must include the conditions for approval, project name and location of project. B. Insulation must be no less than 1 inch thick with the exception of high-density wood fiberboard, high density polyisocyanurate, extruded polystyrene and tapered boards. When the insulation is applied directly over a steel deck, in no case shall the minimum allowable thickness be less than that required to span the flutes of a steel deck. C. Applicable building codes should always be checked prior to proposing the application to Mule-Hide or the building owner. D. Factory Mutual (FM) and Underwriters Laboratory (UL) assemblies can be found in the Factory Mutual Approval Guide and/or Underwriters Laboratories Building Material Directory and Fire Resistance Directory. Code requirements may dictate the use of specific types and thicknesses of insulation. You can contact the Mule-Hide Technical Department for help in determining which Mule-Hide system may meet your code requirements. 2.0 Insulation Insulation Type Used as Overlay Board Adhered Roof Systems Ballasted Mech Attached Polyisocyanurate - Min 1" thick (top layer) - Min 20 psi Yes Yes Yes Yes OSB/Polyisocyanurate Composite - Min 1.5" Yes Yes Yes Yes HD Polyisocyanurate Coverboard Min ½ thick Yes Yes Yes Yes HD Fiberboard - Min 1/2" thick 8 Yes Yes Yes Yes Dens Deck Prime / Securock - Min 1/4" thick Yes Yes Yes Yes OSB - Min 7/16" thick 2 Yes Yes Yes Yes Expanded Polystyrene - Min 1" - Type I 3 4 6 NO NO 1 Yes NO 1 Expanded Polystyrene w/facer - Min 1" - Type II 3 4 7 NO NO 1 Yes Yes 5 Extruded Polystyrene - Min 3/4" thick - Type X 3 4 NO NO 1 Yes NO 1 Extruded Polystyrene - Min 1" - Type IV 3 4 NO NO 1 Yes Yes 5 Extruded Polystyrene Fan Fold Min ¼ thick 3 4 NO NO 1 NO Yes Protection Mat - Min 6 oz. NO NO 1 Yes Yes Notes: 1 - Requires overlay board 2 - OSB must be installed with the rough side up 3 - Not approved over Coal Tar Pitch 4 - Can not be placed in contact with PVC, requires a separation layer 5 - Overlay board recommended 6 - Type I = min 0.90 lb density 7 - Type II = min 1.35 lb density 8 - DO NOT use '6-sided' or asphalt coated board for PVC or water based adhesive See other requirements listed below. Revised Nov 2016 01-2011 Page 1
3.0 Minimum Insulation Specifications A. Project or Code requirements may dictate use of materials other than those listed below. Contact Mule-Hide Technical Department with questions regarding use insulations in a Mule-Hide Roofing System. 1. Wood fiberboard (High Density) Classification: ASTM C-208, Type 2 2. Polyisocyanurate Thickness: 1" Minimum Classification: ASTM C 1289, Facers: Fiber reinforced facers, both sides 3. High Density Polyisocyanurate Compressive Strength: Min 90 psi at 10% deformation Facers: Fiber reinforced facers, both sides 4. Extruded Polystyrene Boards (flat stock) Thickness: 3/4" Minimum Classification: Type X Compressive Strength: Min 15 psi at 10% deformation 5. Extruded Polystyrene Boards (fan fold) Thickness: 1/4" Minimum Compressive Strength: Min 15 psi at 10% deformation Not for use over Coal Tar Pitch. 6. Expanded Polystyrene Boards Thickness: 1" Minimum Classification: Type 1 Compressive Strength: Min 10 psi at 10% deformation 7. Expanded Polystyrene Boards (fan fold) Classification: Type 1 Compressive Strength: Min 10 psi at 10% deformation 8. Perlite is a mineral fiber insulation board that Mule-Hide does not recommend be used in conjunction with the Mule-Hide Roofing Systems. However, should perlite be required to meet building codes, FM, or UL requirements, the perlite must be overlaid with an acceptable insulation. Perlite is not acceptable for use in recover applications. 9. Fiberglass is not an acceptable insulation for use in Mule-Hide Roofing Systems. Revised Nov 2016 01-2011 Page 2
4.0 Insulation Fastening Patterns A. Insulation that is mechanically attached to the substrate shall use approved Mule-Hide fasteners. Minimum insulation attachment rates shall be as per Mule-Hide's requirements or insulation manufacturer's specifications, whichever is greater. Projects requiring Factory Mutual or other Code approvals may require heavier gauge fasteners or additional fasteners. In no case shall the insulation attachment rate be less than Mule- Hide's requirements. B. Insulation is always fastened with 3 Galvalume Stress Plates with minimum #12 Drill Point fasteners. C. Refer to Mule-Hide specifications and details for minimum fastening rates and patterns. 5.0 Other Methods of Insulation Attachment A. Mule-Hide Helix Low-Rise Adhesive is an acceptable method of attaching certain insulations to specific substrates. 1. Helix Low-Rise Adhesive is compatible with the following: a. High Density Wood Fiberboard maximum sheet size is 4 x 4 b. Polyisocyanurate maximum sheet size is 4 x 4. c. Extruded Polystyrene (XPS) Mule-Hide recommend the use of STYROFOAM Brand DECKMATE Plus FA flat or tapered insulation (available in 2 x 8 sheets). Other XPS brands may require a primer or scoring of the surface (contact Mule-Hide Tech Dept. before proceeding). 4 x 8 sheets must be cut into 2 pieces (4 x 4 ). d. Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) maximum sheet size is 4 x 4. Fleece backed membranes (not black EPDM) may be installed directly over a minimum 1.5 lb density EPS. UL and FM codes will require an overlay of polyisocyanurate insulation or an acceptable coverboard (DensDeck Prime or Securock ). e. DensDeck - Mule-Hide recommends the use of DensDeck Prime. f. Securock - Mule-Hide recommends the use of Securock Brand Gypsum- Fiber Roof Board. g. Oriented Strand Board (OSB) When used as a cover board for fully adhered systems place rough side up. Note: Perlite and Fiberglass Insulation are not acceptable. Existing Phenolic insulation must be removed. 1. Acceptable Substrates/Surfaces Helix Low-Rise Adhesive is compatible with the following: a. Concrete (poured in place or precast) New poured decks must have a minimum 28 day cure time. Contractor must confirm decks are thoroughly dry. Mule-Hide recommends adhesion tests for existing concrete. Any asphalt residue found on the existing concrete must be primed with CAV- GRIP Low-VOC Adhesive/Primer. b. Lightweight Concrete - Cellular or air-entrained lightweight substrates are acceptable. Lightweight concrete containing expanded aggregate such as perlite or vermiculite is not acceptable. New lightweight concrete must be confirmed by the contractor to be thoroughly dry. Existing substrates will require adhesion tests. c. Gypsum (poured in place or precast) New gypsum must be confirmed by the contractor to be thoroughly dry. Old gypsum decks having any asphalt residue must be primed with CAV-GRIP. Adhesion tests are recommended. Revised Nov 2016 01-2011 Page 3
d. Cementitious Wood Fiber Adhesion tests are recommended for aged decks. e. Wood (plywood, OSB or plank) minimum deck thickness must be 19/32 inches. f. Painted, galvanized, or acoustical steel decks steel decks may require pressure washing to remove processing oil residue. Acoustical steel decks should have the flutes filled with fiberglass or other suitable fill insulation (to be approved by the building owner/designer) and tacked in place with either duct tape or other adhesive prior to applying the Helix Low-Rise Adhesive. g. Weathered, Smooth BUR (minimum type III or IV surfaced) surfaces must be clean, dry and in sound condition. Adhesion tests are recommended. h. Gravel surfaced BUR Insulation only may be attached to a properly prepared graveled BUR (contact Mule-Hide Tech Dept.). Adhesion tests are required. i. Mineral Cap Sheet/Granulated Mod Bit Cap Sheet Mule-Hide recommends cleaning (pressure washing) of the cap sheet prior to application of the Helix Low-Rise Adhesive. Surfaces must be clean, dry and in sound condition. j. Weathered, Smooth Mod Bit Cap Sheet Mule-Hide recommends cleaning (pressure washing) of the cap sheet prior to application of the Helix Low- Rise Adhesive. Surfaces must be clean, dry and in sound condition. Adhesion tests are required. New sanded cap sheet is not an acceptable substrate. k. Fresh type III or IV asphalt and asphalt that has not been previously exposed (non-oxidized, glossy surfaced) must be primed with CAV-GRIP. l. Mule-Hide F5 Air and Vapor Barrier m. Carlisle VapAir Seal 725TR Vapor Barrier n. Existing roof coatings require adhesion tests to determine proper adhesion to the coatings. Proper adhesion of the existing coatings to their substrate must be verified. Use of the Helix Low-Rise Adhesive for adhesion to acrylic or aluminum coatings is not acceptable. o. Contact Mule-Hide Technical Department when considering installations over existing single-ply roof systems. Refer to Mule-Hide specifications and details for minimum application rates and patterns. B. Asphalt - While Mule-Hide may accept (on a job to job basis) attachment of insulation with hot asphalt for use with Mule-Hide systems, asphalt is neither supplied nor manufactured by Mule-Hide; therefore, the attachment of the insulation with asphalt shall not be covered by Mule-Hide's Standard Warranty. However, if a qualified project designer specifies asphalt attachment, the following recommendations are given: 1. Steep asphalt ASTM D312, Type III or IV, shall be specified 2. Asphalt may only be used to attach approved insulations to primed structural concrete decks, properly nailed base sheets or a base layer of mechanically attached, approved insulation. Insulation must be approved by Manufacturer for use with hot asphalt. 3. Maximum insulation board size shall not exceed 4'x 4'. 4'x 8' boards are not permitted. 4. Expanded or extruded polystyrene insulation shall not be attached with asphalt. B. Mule-Hide Premium warranties require the use of Helix Low-Rise Adhesive. The use of other foam adhesives is prohibited without written approval from the Mule-Hide Technical Services Department prior to bidding the project. Revised Nov 2016 01-2011 Page 4
6.0 Insulation Storage A. Insulation boards stored or stocked on the job site or roof must be stacked on pallets (or other supports) above the deck or ground. B. Insulation shall be covered with waterproof tarps to protect insulation from sun and inclement weather. Wet or damaged insulation must not be used in Mule-Hide roofing systems. C. Insulation should not be stored on the job site for more than thirty (30) days if at all possible. 7.0 Insulation Application - Recommended Practices A. For mechanically attached systems, install field sheets perpendicular to long dimension of the top layer of insulation. Where possible, boards should run parallel to the direction of the flutes of the deck. B. Install insulation boards in parallel courses with tightly fitted and staggered joints. Cut all boards accurately to fit neatly around all projections and at all edges. Gaps greater than 1/4" shall be filled. End joints should be staggered a minimum of 6 inches or as approved by insulation manufacturer. C. Do not use wet or damaged insulation boards. Install no more insulation than can be covered with seamed membrane and watertight details before any precipitation occurs. D. On steel decks, the ends of the insulation boards shall rest on the top of the flutes and not in suspension over the valleys. E. When two layers of insulation are used, the second layer must have the joints staggered to the first layer a minimum of 6 inches or as approved by insulation manufacturer. One set of fasteners may be used to secure both layers of insulation unless otherwise required by the insulation board manufacturer or the design professional. F. In accordance with Mule-Hide specifications, provide proper water cutoffs to completely seal the insulation on a daily basis. Caution: Do not install over wet, damp or uneven substrates. Caution: Keep all insulations away from fire, flame and ignition sources during storage and installation. End Of Section Revised Nov 2016 01-2011 Page 5